My name is Aya Kuramoto... the most beautiful girl in the school.

Aya stepped out of her black limousine, holding her hair to stop the wind as she always did, her other hand holding her school bag. Her school uniform was perfectly worn, with not a single sign of imperfection.

The Kuramoto family owns the Kuramoto Bank, the biggest bank in Japan. We are one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the nation, with a global influence. And I am the heiress of this fortune.

Onlookers gazed dreamily at Aya. Some were students, and some were just people passing by the school gates. Even guys with girlfriends stopped to look at Aya, their faces red and their girlfriends calling at them with annoyance.

I am a top academic student, having achieved the number one rank across all schools this year. My beauty is something that captures the heart of any guy...

Aya gazed at the distance of the crowd, and saw someone approaching her.

And yet...

Plain black hair, and doll-like eyes. A face with the smile of a naive child.

Hikaru stopped in front of Aya, tilting her head as she smiled in an adorable fashion.

"Good morning Aya!"

"G-good morning, Hikaru..." Aya stammered back, averting her gaze.

Doki Doki.

Her heart was beating fast again. It felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. She had never experienced this feeling in her life, and it made her extremely, extremely confused.

Oh god, am I losing my composure again? I-I can't! I have to keep up my image, the whole school is staring!

"Y-you look very cute today... Hikaru..." Aya coughed, glancing to her side.

Whaaaat the heeeeeck am I saying?!

"You look beautiful as always, Aya!" Hikaru replied back cheerfully.

Ah... it feels like my heart was melting, having Hikaru calling me beautiful. I want to just squeeze her into a tight hug and—

No! I can't!

Aya shook her head vigorously, then started walking into the school grounds, with Hikaru by her side.

These feelings... they're just an illusion... it's not real... it's just that I feel sorry for her... that's all... there's nothing to it...

Aya was deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice that students around the school were whispering to each other as they watched Aya and Hikaru walking side by side.

"Who is that walking with Aya?"

"Eh? Why is Aya with that girl?"

"Is that the new transfer student?"

Hikaru didn't take notice of the conversations taking place around her. She was walking cheerfully, happy with the fact that she finally made one friend. And not just a friend at that. Aya had called her 'a best friend'!

"Hey Aya, did you watch the television last night?" Hikaru asked buoyantly.

"Ah... yeah, I think there was a new show... about crime..." Aya glanced down at Hikaru. Hikaru wasn't wearing a jumper today, she was just wearing a collared shirt. Aya could see a tiny part of the top of Hikaru's chest. She peered deeper, trying to get a better view.

"Oh, I don't really watch those channels." HIkaru replied. "I watch the cartoon channel, there was a show about talking rabbits!"

Realising what she was doing, Aya froze, then quickly glanced forward. Did I really just try to peep at her chest?!

"Um... the cartoon channel...?" Aya tried to think about what Hikaru was saying. "Isn't that the kids channel?"

"I-I didn't know there's a kid and an adult channel. I thought they're all the same!"

"..."

How would I know anything about what cartoon played last night?! Aya thought to herself. That's definitely a kids channel! No one watches those things anymore after the age of 12!

Aya noticed all the people in the school hallway staring at them, whispering.

"Um... listen, Hikaru." Aya turned to Hikaru. "I know I said yesterday about being best friends... but we can't be seen together too much."

"Whaat?" Hikaru pouted, puffing her cheeks.

Aya felt light-headed, like she was about to faint right there.

How could I say no to that face?!

"I-I'm just scared people will get jealous of you!" Aya said hastily. "We have to gradually become closer, otherwise people won't take it well!"

"Oh, okay..." Hikaru nodded with a frown. "I thought you were going to say we can't be friends..."

"O-of course, we can be friends!" Aya said. "But, it's just better to take it slowly!"

Aya knew about the school politics from the palm of her hand. Yesterday, she had sprouted some nonsense because she saw Hikaru crying, but today, she was more composed. If she wanted to stop Hikaru from getting bullied, it would be a good idea to take it slowly. She also had to make sure that everyone knew that she had Hikaru's back.

"Anyways, off you go now!" Aya gently pushed Hikaru forward into the hallway. "I'll see you later!"

Aya spoke in a radiant voice, making sure to be purposely loud so that people in the hallway could hear.

"Ah, so they're friends now..."

"It was weird how they suddenly got so close, but that makes sense..."

"I wish I could be Aya's friend!!"

Hikaru stumbled forward amidst the whispering of the students, then glanced backwards at a waving Aya, before smiling faintly, and turning ahead.

Ah, Aya's doing such a good job of looking after me! Hikaru thought to herself as she walked to the classroom. I'm so lucky to have a friend like her! She's also so beautiful and popular! I hope nobody gets jealous...

Entering the classroom in a bubbly mood, Hikaru saw a group of students crowding around Fumiko's desk.

"We heard about what you did!"

"Did you really make Aya angry?"

"You're such a worthless person, you should go die!!"

The same students in the classroom that had been supporting Fumiko before, were now surrounding her. One of the students, a girl with red hair, grabbed onto Fumiko's hair, pulling it hard.

"Aah!!" Fumiko cried, holding onto her hair.

"You told us to bully Hikaru!" The girl said, tugging on Fumiko's hair with a sly expression. "How does it feel now that you fell out with Aya?"

"S-stop it!" Fumiko tried to pull at the girl's hand.

The group of students laughed, sneering down at her.

Hikaru quickly hurried over.

"Please stop! What are you guys doing?!"

The group of students turned and saw Hikaru, their faces suddenly turned friendly, filled with smiles.

"Ah, Hikaru! We were helping you!"

The girl with red hair walked over to Hikaru, smiling. She was the one that had ignored Hikaru when she tried to say hi the other time.

Hikaru glanced around at the rest of the group. These were the people that had been bullying Hikaru before... now they were all pretending to be nice...

"We heard you and Aya are friends now!" The girl with red hair grabbed onto Hikaru's hand, holding it gently. "My name is Mika, we're your friends too! We didn't mean to bully you before! It was all Fumiko's idea!"

The group nodded, still smiling at Hikaru.

Hikaru glanced down at Mika's hand, then glanced up at her.

Their smiles were fake... they were just being nice to her because of Aya...

Hikaru pulled her hand out of Mika's grip.

"Ah!" Mika said, surprised.

Hikaru walked over to Fumiko. Fumiko had fallen down to the ground after Mika had pulled her hair. Hikaru bent down to look at her.

"Hey... are you okay...?" Hikaru asked worried.

"..."

Fumiko didn't respond.

Hikaru moved a hand to touch Fumiko, and Fumiko slapped it away.

"Just leave me alone..." Fumiko said.

"..."

Hikaru stared at her with a worried look.

Mika shrugged. "You heard her, Hikaru. She wants to be left alone. I don't think you should hang with Fumiko. She's not a nice person."

Hikaru turned around angrily to say something, but at that moment Aya entered the classroom, and it was like whole atmosphere changed.

Instantly, the group of students dispersed themselves, going separately into smaller groups or going individually into their desks. Mika also quickly walked off, pretending that nothing had happened.

"A-Aya..." Hikaru muttered, seeing her.

Aya was radiating her usual elegance, having calmed herself down. She walked to her desk, smiling politely at Hikaru, before sitting down. She completely ignored Fumiko that was sitting on the ground.

Hikaru felt disturbed, seeing this.

The bell rang, and students began coming into the classroom. Fumiko picked herself up from the ground, sitting at her desk with her eyes hidden behind her fringe.

When lunch began, Hikaru quickly walked up to Aya's desk.

Aya glanced up, seeing Hikaru and smiled politely.

"Ah, Hikaru..." Aya was putting up her usual school demeanour. "What's the matter?"

"C-can I talk to you, just a second...?" Hikaru asked.

"Sure." Aya picked herself up from her desk, then walked with Hikaru outside the classroom.

Aya took Hikaru to the school rooftops where they won't be disturbed.

She closed the door to the school rooftops then turned to Hikaru, who was shifting uncomfortably.

"What's wrong, Hikaru?" Aya asked, her voice softening.

"The class..." Hikaru said. "They're bullying Fumiko..."

"Ah, is that all?" Aya asked, relieved.

"Is that all...?" Hikaru repeated. "What do you mean? We need to do something!"

"It's fine..." Aya laughed, not understanding why Hikaru was concerned. "Fumiko was the one that bullied you, right? She's just getting back what she dished out..."

"But!" Hikaru wouldn't let the topic go. "This is wrong! You can't just let the class bully her!"

"Hikaru..." Aya said. "There's always someone getting bullied at school... we can't help them all... that's not our problem..."

"...!"

"Ah..." Aya saw the look on Hikaru's face, and tried to retract her statement. "I'm sorry, Hikaru. I didn't mean it like that..."

"...really?"

"Yes!" Aya said. "I-I will help! If you want me to help Fumiko, sure!"

"Do you mean it?" Hikaru's face lit up.

"Of course!" Aya smiled. God dammit, what am I doing? "I don't take back what I say." Even though she did exactly that just a second ago.

"You're the best!" Hikaru said. "I knew I could trust you!"

Aya laughed weakly, but she felt happy inside seeing how joyful Hikaru was.

Sana was sitting at her desk, watching as the class surrounded Fumiko when Aya left the room.

"Hey, you... bully." Mika kicked Fumiko's desk, jolting her.

"W-what is it?" Fumiko tried to put on a tough expression, but she was scared of the group surrounding her.

"You like to bully people, right?" Mika smiled, then picked up Fumiko's notebook from her table. "Then this should be nothing new to you." She tore up the pages of Fumiko's notebook, snickering as she did.

Kenzou was amongst the group that had surrounded Fumiko's table.

"I-I didn't want to hit Hikaru!" Kenzou said. "You made me hit her!"

T-thank god that I managed to push all the blame on Fumiko. Kenzou was thinking to himself. Otherwise, I would probably be getting outcasted like Fumiko at the moment.

"Y-you..." Fumiko stared angrily at Kenzou. "You're the one that thought up of the idea to grab her after school!"

"Wh-what?!" Kenzou feigned ignorance. "Don't lie to everyone here! We know you're the one that planned everything!"

These guys... Fumiko was staring at them. They all had a part in bullying Hikaru, but now they're just pretending it was all my fault... I mean, sure, I told them that Aya said Hikaru was annoying, but still...

Sana was too scared to help Fumiko. She didn't want to end up getting bullied herself. Ah... where is Aya?! I hope she comes back soon...

Mika chucked Fumiko's torn notebook to the side of the room, and indicated to the group.

Two male students from the group stepped forward, then closed in to Fumiko's side.

"W-what are you doing?!" Fumiko yelled, then got up from her desk to get away.

But the two students grabber her by her arms, forcing her to bend down at her waist, pushing her face into her desk.

Fumiko was just a girl so there was no way she could outpower two male students.

"Let's see how your face looks with a scar." Mika said, then pulled a boxcutter out of her pocket.

"W-what?! Are you serious?!" Fumiko was trying with all her strength to get out of the grip of the two students, but they were holding her arms, and holding her head down to the desk, pushing her cheek against the wooden surface. "No! Please, stop!!"

Mika laughed, then pushed the blade out of the razorblade, locking it in place. Then she moved the blade down to Fumiko's face...

At that moment, the door to the classroom opened.

Some of the students turned to look at who it was, and upon seeing the person, quickly tapped at Mika's back.

"What is it?" Mika said annoyed, then turned to look.

It was Aya.

Instantly, the group was starting to disperse, just like before. Mika unlocked the blade, quickly pushing it back inside the handle, then hid the boxcutter behind her back. The two male students immediately released their hold of Fumiko.

"H-hi Aya..."

Students around the classrooom mumbled a quiet greeting to her, as she walked silently past them, heading towards Mika.

Mika tensed up, seeing Aya heading towards her. Oh crap, did she see what I was doing? Dammit, I told those idiots to check the door...

"H-hello, Aya..." Mika smiled politely at Aya, but Aya walked past her, heading to Fumiko.

The students around the classroom looked confused, as Aya stopped in front of Fumiko. Even Fumiko was confused. Aya had been ignoring Fumiko the whole day, pretending that she didn't exist.

When Aya was in front of Fumiko, who was standing at her desk, with a sore face. Aya looked into Fumiko's eyes, smiling at her gently.

"Fumiko..." Aya said. "How are you...?"

"A-Aya..." Fumiko couldn't believe that Aya was speaking to her again. She felt like crying, her eyes getting red. "I-I'm sorry..."

Fumiko started crying, not being able to hold her tears back, and Aya reached out, holding her gently as Fumiko cried into Aya's shoulders.

The whole classroom stared at the scene with mixed feelings.